Succotash Epi28: Hawaiian With David Lee

Greetings, Succotashians! I think this may be a record of time between episodes for the show. Apologies for the delay. Work, mostly, and I'm three weeks into a new diet which took some reconfiguring of my energy reserves to get the show done.

Good news is that the diet's going well - dropped about 15 pounds in 3 weeks - but now Succotash is bloated. This week's epi runs about an hour and 15 minutes. We have much clippage to share, a funny song by Britcom Isabel Fay that's burning up the internet, a classic spot from our friends at Henderson's Pants, and our Burst O' Durst with our Ambassador to The Middle WIll Durst.

The core of our show this time around is my interview with Hawaiian comedian David Lee.

I first heard about David from his father when I was vacationing on Oahu last year. His dad's a bartender at the Outrigger Canoe Club and as we got to talking, he seemed a little less than pleased that his boy was pursuing the comedy, and was doing it in Colorado Springs of all places. Being a supporter of those who have chosen the noble profession, I was determined to get David a little attention, so I tracked him down and we got this epi's interview recorded via Skype a few days ago.

His journey to the comedy stage is an interesting one, especially when you consider that not many stand-ups get their start as a drug dealer. David reveals that and more in our chat.

I wanted to give a nudge to some of the places you can get Succotash nowadays, in addition to the omnipresent iTunes. Stitcher Smart Radio is a great way to stream our show to your device, whether you're on an Android or iOS gadget. And each episode gets rebroadcast over at Clutch & Wiggle Entertainment Radio, so you can pick us up there. Then there are a couple of other apps to check out as well. I've been talking up Podbay, which taps directly into iTunes' podcast library and stream whatever you select to your iDevice. And now Apple has just launched their own podcast app, which allows you to select, stream and/or download your favorite shows.

Enough biz. Let's get to the stuff. Here's what's what on Epi28:

Probably Science
Your affable podscientists Matt Kirshen, Brooks Wheelan and Andy Wood return, along with their guest Bil Dwyer of TV's Battlebot fame. Thesse guys have such a good time kicking around some every day sorts of stories that this clip doesn't even get into the meaty, sciencey part of the show. (Incidentally, I'm reviewing this particular epi of PS as part of This Week In Comedy Podcasts over on Splitsider this week!)

I Am Idiot
Howard, Ben and Keith continue to crankout the p’casts and give us Yanks hope that not everyone in the UK is as sophisticated and cultured as that English accent would have us believe.

Proudly Resents
Billing itself as “The Cult Movie Podcast”, this show tends to be pretty funny, thank to host Adam Spiegelman and his guests, who are frequently comedians. In this case, guest Bobcat Goldthwait gets together for Part 1 of a two-part interview. The clip we have features Bobcat talking about how some famous people got in (and out) of his directorial debut, the cult curio Shakes The Clown.

Rob & Joe Show
Rob Maher and Joe Robinson do their show live every Monday night on http://RobAndJoeShow.com. They’ve got features and guests, just like a real radio show. In the clip they've sent along, they’re talking about a potential new snack food: Dolphin!

Sal & Angelo Podcast
Local (to me) podcast by San Francisco comics Sal Calanni and Angelo recently featured an interview with standup Kellen Erskine. We feature a clip with Kellen relating his perspective on the topic of auditioning for TV shows like Last Comic Standing and America's Got Talent.

Thank You Hater by Clever Pie & Isabel Fay
People complain that the internet has become a place where people get away with posting outrageous things to others, mostly because they’re anonymous and there’s no retribution. Isabel Fay is a comedian in Britain who has decided to go after her faceless detractors in song. I wonder how many of the trolls Isabel is talking about in Thank You Hater have seen her video?

  

Electric Bonnoland

Comedian/musician/artist Chris Bonno has done audio podcasts before but Electric Bonnoland is video and truly weird. Chris’ guest is friend-of-Succotash and TV’s Dean Haglund, from the Chillpak Hollywood Hour. We've got the meaty part of the audio on our podcast, but Electic Bonnoland has to be seen to be...seen.

  

Mimberz & The A-Hole

I don’t know a lot about Mimberz and The A-Hole, a couple of guys podcasting “proudly out of Tampa, Florida”. But they’re past 50 epis now and they’re not afraid to talk about anything. Click in for a taste of MATA…

The Rigid Fist
New to the podcast scene is The Rigid Fist, an offering from Britain hosted by Kat Soren. (CORRECTION: The show is from Australia! Sorry, Kat!) don’t know a whole lot about it, just that it’s getting some early talk up from some of the guys that like us — Royal & Doodall, Gee & Jay — the usual suspects. It seems to be Kat by himself but I’ve gotten the one clip. According to the homesite, there’s Uncle Morty and then various random guests. Kat sent in a rather sketchy boyhood tale.

That's pretty much going to do it for your load of Succotash this time around. Don't hog the plate - when you're done, be sure to pass it around!

— Marc Hershon

Succotash Epi27: Disgustin' With Bill Haywatt

We're back in Studio P in Sausalito for Epi27, which means the show always sounds better and I certainly feel better when engineer/producer Joe Paulino is pushing the buttons and flipping the switches. PLUS it gives us the chance for another Boozin' With Bill segment, where our loyal booth announcer Bill Haywatt shares a libation with us that he picked up somewhere during his illustrious (some might say spotty) career in radio.
 
Unfortunately, Bill's drink this time – Barbecue Punch – turns out to be a dreadful cautionary tale. I'm reproducing the formula here but be warned: This drink is not for the timid, smart or sane.

Hideous beverage aside, it's a fast-paced episode, with a bunch of clips, a dip into the TweetSack, our Burst O' Durst, and a brand new Henderson's Pants spot for their newest line, The Drifter Chino.

Musically, I found a fun little ditty called Incompetent's Lament by Paul & Storm, a duo that has cranked out a lot of comedy tunes, much of which is available via their website. They also have their own podcast, Paul and Storm Talk About Some Stuff for Five to Ten Minutes (On Average), so click over and give 'em a listen.

Here's what's in the lineup this time:

Comedy Bang Bang

This is the week that CBB host Scott Aukerman brings his podcast to television. (Starts Friday, June 8, on IFC.) Our cut is from a recent audio version of the show, featuring comedian guests Sara Silverman and Kyle Dunnigan, who spend some time dissecting one of Sarah’s first TV roles – playing a scientist on Star Trek Voyager.

The Gentleman’s Club

Comic Caleb Bacon runs The Gentleman’s Club: Part comedy, part sports, part strippers and strippers’ parts. In this clip, Caleb’s talking to a “Vegas insider”, Rodric Bradford, about something everyone going to Sin City is looking for – indoor skydiving.

How Was Your Week?

Julie Klausner with Eddie Pepitone

Comedy writer/performer, podcaster, and author Julie Klausner hosts How Was Your Week, which was recently named one of the best comedy podcasts by the New York Times, Rolling Stone & GQ. In the clip we have, she gets into the touchy subject of panic attacks with the Bitter Buddha himself, Eddie Pepitone.

Too Heavy To Skydive

THTS is a big ol’ roundtable chat show with a great title. Hosts Matt, Alex, Erik, Fred, Neil, and Tim talk about news, sports, pop culture, movies, and…porn. But at least it's tasteful, sharing AND ecological porn. Check out their many segments, contributors and other stuff.

Murphy’s Law & The Mercenaries

Shane Murphy, Neil Mercener and Geoff Jewel host one of podcasting's “shootin’ the shit” show – a bunch of guys sitting around and talking about whatever’s going on. Nothing wrong with that, and it's nice to see these guys have differences of opinion about some of the subjects they talk about.

Mustache Rangers

Podcasts don't have to be long to be funny and entertaining. A number of the shows I don't pick clips from could take that lesson from The Mustache Rangers. The improvised episodes are short and clever, as performed by Corey Anderson and Aric McKeown. Local favorites of the Twin Cities, the show was named Best Podcast of 2011 by Mpls St Paul magazine. Note: They have a live version of The Mustache Rangers coming up on June 21^st at the Twin Cities Improv Festival.

Nobody Likes Onions

Patrick Melton with Ryan Stout

Comedian and podcast pioneer Patrick Melton has one of the longest running podcasts around. Nobody Likes Onions started back in 2005. For his seventh anniversary, he has comedian Ryan Stout in the studio where, in this clip, Patrick reveals that he used to steal vans and sell waffles out of them. Hey, me too!

Sklarbro County

As brother Randy & Jason Sklar near Episode 100 of their popular podcast Sklarbro Country, their listeners are clamoring for more than one show a week. Here's their answer: Take the "r" out of Country. Shorter, easier to produce, with more timely, time-sensitive sports stories.

We wrap up Epi27 with a Burst O’ Durst, in which our Ambassador to the Middle, political wit Will Durst talks about Mitt Romney’s lack of discernible position on…anything.

— Marc Hershon

Succotash Epi26: Punchlinin' With Joe Klocek

Joe Klocek

No clips this episode. Just warning you up front. Normally we bring you a barrage of comedy podcast clips from around the Net of Inter (hence our subtitle, the Comedy Podcast Podcast.) This episode there's mostly just room enough for my interview with our special guest Joe Klocek. NEXT epi, however, there will be a barrelful of clippage and no interview.

You'll like Joe. He's a funny, engaging standup comedian, solidly based in the San Francisco comedy scene — "a big fish in a small pond" as he puts it. Was not moving to Los Angeles or New York earlier in his career a misstep? Could be — we get to that and a whole lot more in our chat that took place this past week in the green room at San Francisco's historic Punchline Comedy Club. (A visit that really took me back, as I was hanging (and helping) out at the Punchline when it first opened more than 30 (!) years ago.)

If you're within hailing distance of The City By The Bay, do yourself a favor and check out Joe's monthly show Previously Secret Information (or PSI.) He, along with Bruce Pachtman and Ty Mckenzie, have been producing this kickass monthly storytelling show. Often featuring comedians, PSI also has actors, writers and other show folk telling tales that, while often humorous in part, stray frequently into other emotional landscapes that make for the best stories. Coming up in June you can not only catch Joe in the show, but also Jamie De Wolf, C.W. Nevius, Erika Lutz, and Jack Boulwere. Shows happen at Stage Werx Theater, 446 Valencia St. in the Mission District.

Although there aren't any podcast clips per se in this epi, you will hear I Want To Win, a cut off Karen Kilgariff's album, Behind You. Funny lady, funny songs — for just $3 bucks, you can download it from BandCamp.com.

And, of course, we have our Burst O' Durst with a slightly belated Memorial Day message from comedy's Ambassador to the Middle, Will Durst.

Before I forget, big thanks to those Succotash listeners who contributed to friend-of-the-show Dean Haglund's Kickstarter campaign. The X-Files/Lone Gunmen alum reached his goal for the funds needed to publish his planned Shock n' Awesome graphic novel!

Since we don't have any podcast clips this time around, it seems like a good opportunity to remind any comedy podcasters that you're always welcome to submit a 3-5 minute MP3 clip from your show to me by sending it to marc@SuccotashShow.com.

That's about it. Shorter bit of blather from me than usual. More time for you to enjoy my chat with Joe Klocek! When you get done, kindly pass the Succotash!

— Marc Hershon